Edward "Ned" Hanlan
Columbia's Crew Coach 1900-1903
Canadian born Hanlan was a champion sculler and became a professional rower in 1874/1875. He quickly proved his mettle and won the title of champion sculler of Canada and then the United States in 1878. In 1879, he defeated the English sculling champion in record time and became champion sculler of England. In doing so, he held the "triple crown" of the rowing world.
Hanlan continually defended his title and only lost 3 out of 600 races in his career. One of his most famous races was with Charles E. "Pop" Courtney in 1878. Hanlan defeated him and won $10,000 as a result. He held the title of world sculling champion from 1880 to 1884. He lost the title in August 1884 while battling a second case of typhoid and after nearly colliding with a ship during the race.
Hanlan always wore a blue shirt while rowing and became known as the "boy in blue." He had an efficient stroke and took full advantage of the sliding shell seat. He is considered the father of modern rowing technique.
Hanlan retired from rowing in 1897 and became the first head coach at the University of Toronto Rowing Club. While in Toronto, he worked in the hotel business with his father and also served as a city alderman. He would leave Toronto for Columbia University in 1900 to serve as head coach.
He passed away in 1908 at the age of 52 due to pneumonia. He was survived by his 8 children.
Hanlan had a major impact on rowing and was the subject of the 1986 film, The Boy in Blue, starring Nicholas Cage. He would also be inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Sources about Hanlan:
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
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